Improved canal-lock-gate step



HOM-'ER REXFQRD, 0F SANDYHILL, NEW YORK.

Letters PatentNo. 77,405,A dated April 28, 1868.

IMPROVED CANAL-LOGK-GATE STEP.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HOMER REXFORD, of Sandy Hill, Washington county, andState of New York, have invented a new and improved Oanal-Lock-Gate StepandI do hereby declare the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon. t

The nature of my invention consists in connecting the step on which thegate rests and swings with the metallic'box fitted in the heel-post ofthe gate, to rest upon the pivot of'the step, which enters the socketof' the box, in such a manner that the step will remain attached to saidboit when Ithe gate is being putin its proper position, and'when removedfrom its place by accident or design.

lo enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, IAwill proceed to describe its construction. I make in the socket ofthebox, heretofore inserted in the lower end of the heel-post of the gate,an annuler slot, at about one-tbird of the height of said socket, and ofsuiicient size' for the feather," herein described,

to move in freely at all times; and from the lower end ci' said socket Imake a vertical slot up into said annular slot, of sulicient size toreceive said feather, and allow it to pass into said annular slot.

Upon the side of the common' pivot of the ordinary step, I make aAfeather, of suilicient size to ft saidv vertical slot, and pass intosaid annular ring or slot, and there be made to revolve so freely thatsaid box cannot, at any time, rest upon said featherg and, at the sametime, the ifeather will be of suilicient strength to sustain the weightoi' the step," in its connection with the box, at all times.

In the accompanying drawingsl 'B represents the pivot, .featherf andAbase combined, forming the step."

A represents the steppivot. F represents the fcather." C represents thevertical of the metallic box. E -represents the annular slot in thesocket of the box. D represents the vertical slot. G represents thesocket of thc box. v v J represents. the heel-post of the gate, with thebox and step connected, and when in position.-

Having thus malle E and Din the socket of Gr, I x the metallic box inthe lower end of the heel-post of thc gate, with D in the direction of4the front of the heel-post ofthe gate, and then4 connect B with saidbox by passing F, on the-pivot of the said step, .through D, into E,and, by a partial revolution of said step, sufficient to bring saidlfcathef' opposite to D in said annular. slot, the connection iscompleted, and said gate can be placed in posit-ion, or removedtherefrom, Iwithout said step and box being disconnected, whereby muchtime, labor, and expense are saved in shipping the lock-gatc,an'd inreplacing it when it is removed from its proper position by accident orfrom other causes. l

I do not claim 'the box and step now in use in connection with thesupport of canal-lock-gates; but I claim the construction andarrangement of the step B, with its pivot A and feather I", whencombined with the metallic box C, constructed with its annular slot- D,in the manner and i'or the purposes herein described.

i I-IOMER REXFORD. Witnesses:

MARTIN' Bunrorr, WILLIAM S. Siirronn.

